“King of the Outlaws” Steve Kinser Final Season in 2014 “Salute to the King”

The 20-time World of Outlaws (WoO) STP Sprint Cup Series Champion, Steve Kinser, announced today that the upcoming 2014 WoO campaign will be his final championship-chasing season. Driver for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) and winner of 1978 WoO inaugural season in ’78, Kinser will conclude his career with the final season of WoO called “Salute to the King” which kicks off in February with the DIRTcar Nationals in Florida.

Kinser, from Bloomington, Indiana, rocked the short-track with 576 career WoO-Feature wins and dominated the WoO series during 35 whole seasons of racing. With a lengthy record book, Kinser plans to add to it during the 2014 season as he battles for the title one more time.

“We’re really excited to make one more run at a World of Outlaws championship,” said Kinser, who will celebrate his 60th birthday June 2. “Racing with the Outlaws has been my life for almost 40 years. It’s all I’ve known. My family has been around it. I’ve had the pleasure of running up and down the road racing all across this incredible country, and even in Canada, Mexico, and Australia with this series. I knew it wasn’t going to last forever. I feel like we have a great team here capable of winning a lot of races and challenging for the championship this year.”

Starting at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida, the “Salute to the King” will soon kick off its 37th season. A complete schedule will include 53 tracks with more than 90 nights of racing and will be announced in the days to come.

With an impressive short-track career behind him, Kinser has won WoO A-Features at 142 facilities with 42 that will be part of this year’s schedule. Kinser has raced and experienced success at some of the most prestigious dirt tracks in the country with 34 WoO A-Feature wins at both Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio and Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway and 26 WoO A-Feature triumphs at historic Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. Kinser will have the opportunity to race these tracks again during the 2014 schedule and add to the record books.

“Steve Kinser has been an icon in short-track racing for decades and has been the face of the World of Outlaws, really, since he won his first three titles starting in 1978,” WoO CEO Brian Carter said. “We are extremely thrilled for him to chase his 21st title with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series this year. It’s going to be an amazing season.”

Back in May 1978, Kinser took his first career WoO-A Feature at Eldora Speedway. With many changes over the years, Kinser’s competitive spirit is as strong as ever. Kinser’s competitive nature to win was what inspired another NASCAR three-time Sprint Cup champion to start his career as a racecar driver. The “King of the Outlaws” was Tony Stewart’s dream growing up as a kid from Columbus, Indiana. Now after four seasons, Kinser has competed in a car owned by Stewart.

“I never missed an Outlaw show in the area when I was growing up,” Stewart said. “We waited for those nights like they were holidays. It was incredible watching Steve race with Sammy (Swindell) and Doug (Wolfgang). He was our guy, being from Indiana, and when he won, it gave us all something to brag about. And he won a lot. A few years ago, when we had the chance to get him to drive for TSR, it was like a dream come true. When we got him on board, my goal was for him to drive for us for the remainder of his career. I’m really excited for him to go out and have a great season. He’s the best ever and I couldn’t be more proud.”

During all of his 35 WoO seasons, Kinser has piloted the No. 11 car which represented several bands throughout his lengthy career. Bad Boy Buggies teamed up with TSR and Kinser last season in front of full stands from coast to coast. The off-road utility vehicle leader in hunting and outdoor is thrilled to be riding with Kinser on No. 11 Bad Boy Buggies/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet Performance Maxim during the upcoming 2014 “Salute to the King” season.

“We’re excited and proud to be a part of Steve’s final run at another championship with the Outlaws,” said Eric Bondy, vice president, consumer business, Bad Boy Buggies. “His place in history is guaranteed, but his fire to compete and win races is as strong today as it was 30 years ago. We look forward to an awesome year together.”

A number of promotions will be included in “Salute to the King” and the first of several announcements will be made in late January before the season opener in Florida.